Alcohol sales down since Scots ban on multi-buy deals

Sales of alcohol have fallen in Scotland since the introduction of a ban on multi-buy deals, new figures show.

The ban, which was introduced in October, was followed by a five per cent decrease in sales of wine, a three per cent drop in spirits and an eight per cent fall in beer sales during the first eight weeks, compared with the same period in 2010.

In contrast, sales of wine and spirits fell by just four per cent and one per cent, respectively, in England and Wales - where the ban is not in place - while beer sales rose by one per cent.

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The figures, which were published by retail analysts Neilsen, were welcomed by the Scottish National Party.

MSP Bob Doris, deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's health committee, said: 'These early statistics show the ban on multi-buy deals is working.

'The multi-buy ban was to target those people who go to supermarkets for one bottle of wine and end up buying three instead due to these offers.'

The party also plans to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol in a bid to reduce levels of alcohol misuse.

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